#EMMASTRONG supporters help teen with leukemia

Emma Strait wears a jersey with the number 1 on the Greencastle-Antrim Middle School girls' basketball team.

But a different kind of shirt with the number 1 has been created since she was diagnosed with leukemia on Jan. 17.

The sale of navy blue T-shirts with #1 in the G-A logo on a basketball that say #FIGHTLEUKEMIA on the front and #EMMASTRONG on the back, combined with activities at recent boys' and girls' high school basketball games, raised more than $5,000 in 10 days after the 13-year-old's diagnosis.

At this Friday night's home boys' basketball game against Waynesboro, there will be a half-court shot for a $15,000 prize sponsored by Antrim Insurance.

Vicki Ritchey, G-A athletic director, has become a point of contact for the fundraisers, but said there are "a lot of hands" helping out, including the basketball coaches.

About Emma and her family

Emma loves to read, it's her No. 1 thing, according to her mother, Melissa True. In addition to basketball, the seventh-grader plays softball and loves just hanging out with her family, playing games or watching Netflix.

Emma got sick in December, feeling weak and tired with a high fever in the evenings. At first doctors thought it was a virus. Her fever went higher after Christmas and her iron levels were out of whack so the family was referred to Hershey Medical Center, according to True.

"I said when she got sick I wanted an answer why, this was not the answer I was looking for," her mother said. "We're taking it one day at a time."

Emma was quickly admitted and started treatment that will continue for 2 1/2 years, including once a week at Hershey for at least six months then once a month after that. Emma will not be able to return to school this year.

"They are 90 percent confident it will go away after treatment, but because of her age it could come back in later years," True said.

"With God’s love and healing, our family will get through this and Emma will be 'Emma Strong!'" her mother said.

Emma's family includes stepfather, Jay, who is retired; sister, Ellie, a G-A High School student; brother, Eli, who lives with their father in Warfordsburg; stepsisters, Ashley and Kristen True, also G-AHS students and members of the Blue Devils girls basketball team; stepsister, Kelly Longerbeam and husband, Ryan, who live in Hagerstown with their son, James; and stepbrother, Danny True, and his wife, Amanda, who live in Morgantown, West Virginia, with their son, Xavier.

Jay True was hospitalized for a blood infection and blood clots last April, and has been in and out of the hospital since. In June, his artificial knee was removed because that is where the infection started, and he is still waiting to have a new artificial knee put in.

"Because I had to become a nurse for him and I have learned many things, I think that was God’s way of preparing me to take care of Emma as well," Melissa True said. "This is a different journey than his, but one that I know we will also overcome.

"We are very blessed with all of the support, prayers, donations, and for the community that we live in. Emma has been showered with love and prayers from our community and from our hometowns. We are thankful for everything everyone has done, and is doing, for Emma and our family," said True.

"Donations will be used for whatever Emma needs as well as travel expenses, and to help while I am currently off without pay," said True, an emotional support teachers assistant at Greencastle-Antrim High School, adding the district puts "family first:" and she has been told to take off as much time as she needs.

Friday night details

Tickets for a chance at the half-court shot are $10 each or three for $25 and will be sold at the game. Jayvee action starts at 6:30 p.m. and the varsity tipoff is at 8.

Ritchey noted Waynesboro agreed to a schedule change so the G-A girls — including Emma's stepsisters — can be back in time for half-time of the boys' game. The girls play in Waynesboro starts with junior varsity at 4 p.m., followed by varsity at 6.

In addition to the half-court shot and T-shirt sales, a fundraiser is being planned March 11 at John Allison with a percentage of the proceeds going to Emma and her family.

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